From CBS News: A man faces first-degree murder charges for allegedly setting a woman on fire as she slept on the New York City subway.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was charged Monday with first and second degree murder and arson after the shocking crime on an F train in Coney Island, Brooklyn over the weekend, police said.
Zapeta was taken into custody the day of the fire on the subway after police said three teenagers recognized him from photos released by the NYPD. Police said body camera footage and cameras inside the subway cars spotted him sitting on the platform and watching the woman burn.
Immigration officials said Zapeta reentered the U.S. sometime after being sent back to Guatemala in 2018. He did not know the woman who was burned to death and there was no interaction between them before the attack, according to police.
The victim, who has not yet been identified, was set on fire while she was sleeping on the train. Officials said they believe Zapeta used a lighter to ignite the victim’s clothing, “which became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds.”
In the video footage which went viral on social media, the victim is seen standing in the doorway of the subway car, as her body is engulfed in flames. She slightly moves at one point, but does not try to run.
Now, an even more tragic revelation has come to light. The woman may have been handicapped.
Surveillance footage of the incident from inside the train car appears to show a walker among the flames, indicating the woman needed the aid of the walker to get around.
SUSPECT IN CUSTODY – HE IS AN ILLEGAL MIGRANT: The suspect accused of setting a woman on fire in the NYC subway is Sebastian Zapeta. He is an illegal migrant from Guatemala. He sat on a bench and watched his victim burn alive.
WE NEED MASS DEPORTATIONS! pic.twitter.com/PPtSLGJAOn
— NYScanner (@nyscanner) December 22, 2024
This story gets worse. The woman burned to death in NYC by Sebastian Zapata, had a walker. New photos show the victim had a walker. Zapata apparently also fanned the flames w/ a tshirt or some garment to make the flames rise higher.https://t.co/bo8ywh7ocG
— ModSquad anti-communist. (@Designsage) December 23, 2024
WARNING: The following video is extremely GRAPHIC. The woman appears to have made it to the doorway, but was unable to go any further.
⚠️GRAPHIC VIDEO⚠️
A few thoughts:
1. All subway trains are required to have 1 portable fire extinguisher — why wasn’t it used on this victim?2. Police officers often have or can quickly access fire extinguishers — why is this officer doing NOTHING? 1/3
pic.twitter.com/6wdJA34KOJ— Chad Banghart (@ChadBanghart) December 23, 2024
A Guatemalan migrant, Sebastin Zapeta, was arrested in connection with the murder of a woman who was set on fire and killed on a Brooklyn subway train. NYPD officials stated that Zapeta, who illegally entered the U.S. in 2018, calmly ignited the victim’s clothing, remained at… pic.twitter.com/qCfbBTUDnl
— The Crime Side (@TheCrimeSide1) December 23, 2024
Officials were seen escorting Zapeta to court on Monday. He has now been charged with:
1st degree Murder
2bd degree Murder
1st degree Arson
Zapeta has reportedly told police he was drunk and doesn’t remember the gruesome killing at all. He still had the lighter in his pocket when he was arrested later in the day.
NEW: Officials escort 33 y/o Sebastian Zapeta—Facing murder and arson charges after police say he set a woman on fire while riding a New York subway. https://t.co/dIg3G17r7x pic.twitter.com/ekTStU63lE
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) December 23, 2024
NYPD OFFICIALLY CONFIRMS ID AND CHARGES AGAINST NY SUBWAY SUSPECT 👀
Via NYPD: Pursuant to an ongoing investigation, the following individual was arrested and charged on Monday, December 23, 2024, at approximately 1310 hours in the confines of the 60th Precinct:
Zapeta,… https://t.co/dIg3G17r7x
— Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) December 23, 2024
This is Sebastian Zapeta.
He is an illegal Guatemalan migrant, who is accused of setting a woman on fire on the NYC subway.
He was deported under Trump’s first admin in 2018 but invaded the US again at an unknown date and stayed in the NYC taxpayer-funded shelter system. pic.twitter.com/uAawMjLGvu
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 23, 2024
BREAKING: Guatemalan illegal Sebastian Zapeta who is accused of setting a woman on fire in NYC, was deported under Trump in 2018 but snuck back in under Biden – NY Post pic.twitter.com/gxkdiUJcn9
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) December 23, 2024
BREAKING: Sebastian Zapeta, suspect accused of lighting a woman on fire, killing her, while she slept on a Stillwell Avenue F train this a.m., has been arrested. Not charged. Lighter allegedly found in his possession. Awaiting @NYPDnews to speak at presser at 1 Police Plaza. pic.twitter.com/eC1Y7dLyRv
— Dorian Geiger (@dgeigs) December 22, 2024
ICE has revealed that Zapeta illegally crossed the border into the US in June 2018, and the Trump administration DEPORTED him back to Guatemala two days later.
Then, at an unknown date, he snuck back into the country as a “gotaway,” and took up refuge in New York City – a sanctuary city – and has been living off the U.S. taxpayers’ dime.
UPDATE: New details surface on illegal alien who burned woman to death on NYC subway
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